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The Harvey County Commission approved a rezoning and conditional-use permit for an AT&T cell tower at its meeting Monday.
The 300-foot tower will be on 70 acres southwest of Burrton. The land was rezoned from residential to agricultural. It is currently being farmed, and no structures exist on the site.
Curtis Holland, an attorney for AT&T, told the commissioners the tower should improve coverage for the Burrton area, especially for cell phone use inside buildings.
The tower has the potential for improving cell coverage at Harvey County West Park, which is a much-need improvement to emergency communications for that area, said Chip Westfall, commission chairman.
Holland also said the tower would be made available for other service providers or community communications.
Scott Davies, director of planning and zoning, said he already has been in communication with the director of Harvey County 911 Communications about the possibility of putting a 911 repeater on the tour.
A third-party reviewer of the case suggested the tower should be 199 feet instead of 300 feet, as it would require less lighting.
“We thought long and hard about getting a third-party involved,” Commissioner Marge Roberson said. “And now we are going to say we are going to override you.”
Holland said the lights on this tower will be less obtrusive LED lights than those used on older towers.
The lights will blink white during the day and red at night.
All commissioners ultimately voted to support the tower. Construction will begin after a final review by the FFA.
The Harvey County Commission approved a rezoning and conditional-use permit for an AT&T cell tower at its meeting Monday.
The 300-foot tower will be on 70 acres southwest of Burrton. The land was rezoned from residential to agricultural. It is currently being farmed, and no structures exist on the site.
Curtis Holland, an attorney for AT&T, told the commissioners the tower should improve coverage for the Burrton area, especially for cell phone use inside buildings.
The tower has the potential for improving cell coverage at Harvey County West Park, which is a much-need improvement to emergency communications for that area, said Chip Westfall, commission chairman.
Holland also said the tower would be made available for other service providers or community communications.
Scott Davies, director of planning and zoning, said he already has been in communication with the director of Harvey County 911 Communications about the possibility of putting a 911 repeater on the tour.
A third-party reviewer of the case suggested the tower should be 199 feet instead of 300 feet, as it would require less lighting.
“We thought long and hard about getting a third-party involved,” Commissioner Marge Roberson said. “And now we are going to say we are going to override you.”
Holland said the lights on this tower will be less obtrusive LED lights than those used on older towers.
The lights will blink white during the day and red at night.
All commissioners ultimately voted to support the tower. Construction will begin after a final review by the FFA.
